Doncaster is celebrating a major milestone in its digital transformation as work begins to extend its full fibre network to reach almost every home and business in the town, as part of a £25m private investment from CityFibre.
Full fibre is currently available to around 13 percent of premises across the UK. It is revered as the best in connectivity for its speed, near unlimited bandwidth and reliability. By using fibre optic cables for every stage of the connection from the customer’s home or business to the internet, users will be offered a significantly superior and more reliable broadband service, capable of Gigabit speeds (1,000 Mbps).
The full fibre network is not yet live, but once activated, services will be available from an increasing range of broadband providers. Across the UK, CityFibre is already working with launch partner Vodafone to deliver next generation broadband services, and TalkTalk is expected to join the network soon.
Construction work has officially commenced in the town centre and Hyde Park area, with Hexthorpe & Balby North set to follow. Heneghans is delivering the construction programme on CityFibre’s behalf and all contractors are being urged to follow the social distancing protocols as outlined by Public Health England to ensure the build partners’ safety.
Modern build techniques will ensure the network is delivered quickly, with Doncaster Council and local communities fully consulted to manage disruption and ensure a fast and successful roll-out. Residents are being kept informed through digital advertisements and mailings ahead of works commencing in their streets.
Natalie Ward, CityFibre’s City Manager for Doncaster, said: “For people across Doncaster, their digital future is just around
the corner. Work is now underway and that is something to be celebrated. Full fibre broadband will help households and businesses access all they need at lightning speed, but the benefits are far deeper than that – from enabling smart home technologies to giving people the freedom to work from home with ease.
“The investment also comes at a critical time for Doncaster’s forward-thinking business community. Next generation full fibre connectivity can drive innovation and productivity, ultimately giving businesses the platform they need to realise their growth ambitions. And it won’t just improve business locally – it will also help businesses take their products or services to an international audience.”
According to research from economic consultancy Regeneris, full fibre connectivity will have a major impact in Doncaster over the next 15 years. It shows that up to £33m could be added to the value of local homes, while Smart City initiatives could add as much as £52m locally. Access to full fibre could also unlock £15m in business productivity and innovation, while a further £18m in growth could be driven from new business start-ups, with enhanced connectivity making it easier and less expensive to set up base and run efficiently.
If residents are interested in full fibre broadband, they can pre-register interest with CityFibre and will receive information when services are available.
To pre-register interest, visit: cityfibre.com/register/
